Anxiety is certainly normal. Everyone feels it from time to time. Working up the courage to ask someone on a date, the start of a big race, taking a test, or walking down a dark street alone are all anxiety producing moments. Everyone feels stress in these moments but most people are able to address the anxiety it produces and, in relatively short order, it is dealt with and goes away. A person with an anxiety disorder is often unable to handle these stress inducing moments. Sometimes they suffer to such an extent that it becomes hard to even function. Whats more, the anxiety over something simple, such as a job interview, can bleed over into other aspects of life.
A person with normal anxiety will eventually gain control over it. On the other hand, a person with an anxiety disorder can often be unable to control it, and in fact, their anxiety may actually be controlling them.
Anxiety is a normal part of life and, in fact, can be self-preserving. For example, if we didn't feel anxious about earning a living or taking care of our children, we might not work hard enough to do so. However, as the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (see the link below) points out, anxiety is different than an anxiety disorder. If a person has anxiety that interferes with their ability to function and to carry out daily activities, that person may have an anxiety disorder. For example, many people get nervous about going to social events. However, if a person has so much anxiety that they stay away from an event or from many events, that person may have an anxiety disorder. Regular anxiety is also linked to a specific event or situation, such as a job interview, while an anxiety disorder is more chronic or in nature and may not be connected to a specific situation; it might be more unexpected or constant in nature.
https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety
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